Seoul. 20 years ago, this city was nothing special for most people, perhaps a classic layover on the way to Japan or China. But in the past few decades, Seoul has become a hotspot of culture, entertainment, and vibrant young life now famous all around the world. If you’re looking for a city that has it all, look no further than the incredible capital of Korea. Whether you want to dive into the past, taste the present, or explore the future, Seoul has something for you.
Love K-pop? Well, you’re obviously in the right place. Love great food? Seoul has so many options, I had to write a separate article just about the traditional foods and the unique cafes. Shopping? Say no less—entire districts are dedicated just to trendy fashion.
Seoul is one of my favorite cities in the world and I would love to show you why. Let’s take a look at what this amazing metropolis has to offer.
COEX Starfield Library
It may not be the best library to slam a work session, but it definitely looks the best on your Instagram feed. Starfield Library, located on the ground floor of the massive COEX Mall, is probably the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen. The two-story library features towering, 13-meter bookshelves that beg the question: how do you get a book from the top? The beautiful natural light streaming in through the windows and wood-paneled atmosphere make the library peaceful and enjoyable even amongst the dozens of visitors milling around. There’s even a cafe on the second floor if you want a drink or slice of cake.
Ihwa Mural Village
The adorable Ihwa Mural Village is a residential neighborhood set precariously into the steep hills around Seoul. Dotted with various street art pieces from local artists, the village welcomes tourism and even features maps to help you find all the murals. It’s an incredibly cute and peaceful place—even though we walked around in the middle of the afternoon, we saw very few other people besides a handful of locals. And bonus, you might even find a village cat!
Remember to keep your voice down as the mural village is a residential area and it’s impolite to disturb the locals.
Like mural villages? I have two beautiful ones on my list of things to do in Busan! How about a trip to the beach?
Namsan Baekbeom Square
Fans of the hit Korean drama Itaewon Class will recognize this location from the show. But even if you’re not a K-drama fan, it’s hard not to fall in love with the beautiful views from Namsan Park’s highest point. An elegant stone wall surrounds the lush park that bursts with azaleas in the spring time, and the views over the top showcase the entirety of Seoul in its glory.
You’ll find here a green oasis with locals walking dogs and couples taking evening strolls, because sunset is undeniably the best time to enjoy Baekbeom Square. On a good day, you’ll be treated to the most stunning sunset view in all of Seoul.
Experience Seoul’s Many, Many Cafes
Seoul has every cafe in the world imaginable. If you’ve thought of it, there’s a cafe for it. Sewing cafes, art cafes, laundry cafes, traditional cafes, pet cafes…just say the word. What really sets Seoul’s cafe scene apart from those around the world is the sheer number of unique cafe experiences you can find aside from just having your normal iced coffee to go.
You can check out my full list of Seoul’s best unique and aesthetic cafes here, but here’s an abridged sample list for if you’re in a hurry:
- Cheongsudang: peaceful hanok cafe tucked in a hidden bamboo forest
- Cafe Onion: super-popular hanok cafe with fresh housemade pastry and bread
- Peach Gray: relatively low-key watercolor cafe located in trendy Jamsil where you can paint and eat at the same time
Find my full list of Seoul’s Best Aesthetic & Unique Cafes here.
N Seoul Tower
Also called Namsan Tower, the 236-meter Seoul Tower is an iconic fixture of the city. It is most famous for its sweeping panoramic views of Seoul, as well as its thousands of locks symbolizing the love between couples who have visited and wanted to leave their mark. The observatory costs about 16,000 won or about 12 USD per person, which is a reasonable price for the best view in all of Seoul. If you’re interested in adding your own lock to the Love Lock Bridge, you can also bring one or purchase one at the bottom of the tower.
Rent a Hanbok
Renting hanbok, or a traditional Korean dress, is a popular activity among both locals and foreign tourists. Koreans have no problem with foreigners wearing hanbok and even encourage this, as long as you do it respectfully. There are dozens of hanbok rental shops around Seoul, with most being clustered near the traditional Gyeongbokgung Palace (the next item in this list). A full rental costs only around 30,000 won for a whole day, so dress up and head out to explore the traditional side of the city!
Gyeongbokgung Palace
One of the historic royal residences, Gyeongbokgung Palace is the most popular palace in Seoul. There are others, but none quite as large and grand. Many visitors, including locals, enjoy wearing their hanbok here to step back in time and feel as though they are wandering the palace grounds in a snapshot of history. Plus, entry to the palace is free if you wear a hanbok—though it’s only 3,000 won (less than 3 USD) to enter if you aren’t interested in renting one.
The palace is absolutely enormous so be prepared to walk and wander! The main gate (Gwanghwamun) is the most crowded, but if you want a bit of the palace to yourself, just walk back towards the back gate and the people will disappear quickly. Just remember the palace is closed on Tuesdays!
If you’re interested in visiting the less popular and smaller palaces, Changdeokgung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace are two other good picks. They are closed on Mondays.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Hanok refers to traditional Korean buildings and architecture, especially houses. The Bukchon Hanok Village is a traditional-style village built in the middle of Seoul’s hilly streets. It’s a popular destination as well to wear hanbok, though it’s far from the only hanok village in Seoul. The hundreds of traditional houses are quite charming with their wooden doors and heavy tiled roofs, and you might even see local residents walking around in hanbok as well.
Bukchon Hanok Village is extremely popular for hanbok photos, so it can get crowded during the daytime. If you can, come in the morning—we showed up for sunrise and by the time we left at 8:30 AM, there was still no one there! Just remember to keep to a respectable volume as the residents here are surely tired of visitors being noisy on their doorsteps.
Try Korean Street Food
I grew up eating a lot of Korean food because I lived in a very Korean area, so I am well-educated on the wonders of Korean cuisine. Korea’s street food scene is one of my favorite in the world, and there are so many options to try, you could just eat all of your meals on the side of the road if you wanted to!
I have a full Korean food guide here, but here are a couple of street foods you should absolutely try:
- Tteokbokki: chewy Korean rice cakes in a spicy sauce, and an extremely popular street food
- Kimbap / Gimbap: various meat or fish wrapped with vegetables in rice and a seaweed roll, similar to maki sushi
- Chimaek: literally “chi” from “chicken” and “maek” from “maekju” (beer), Korean fried chicken often paired with beer is unlike any other fried chicken you’ve ever eaten before! Try Boneless Man (see below) for a variety experience.
- Hotteok: a sweet deep-fried pancake, usually filled with brown sugar or honey. Very popular especially on cold days!
And here are some street food / casual chain restaurants you should definitely try:
- Isaac Toast: a popular Korean street toast shop that serves delicious, buttery toast sandwiches with meat, egg, cabbage, and an addictive kiwi-based sauce (yes, that’s right). My favorite toast in Korea!
- Mom’s Touch: a chicken sandwich restaurant chain found all over Seoul. Delicious and crispy and just all-around good eating.
- Boneless Man: Korean fried chicken in over 10 different types of flavors. You can get a box with 5 or 6 different flavors and sample many different sauces, but I recommend a classic soy, a spicy yangnyeom, and the one topped with green onion (my personal favorite!)
By the way, delivery food is extremely popular and affordable in Korea (sometimes even more affordable than the subway fare to get to the restaurant in person). So if you’re too lazy to go out, just order in!
Find my full guide to Must-Try Korean Food here.
Common Ground
If you’re into trendy shopping, Common Ground is a great place to start. This vast mall made of giant blue shipping containers features 300 stores selling accessories and trinkets of all kinds. There’s also clothing shops ranging from sportswear brands to affordable trendy apparel for the young. Plus, the exterior is so photogenic!
Explore Bookstores
Seoul has many cute bookstores that are great for reading (or photographing, depending on what you want to do there). I was impressed with the range of libraries and bookstores we encountered, but these are the standouts in my opinion!
- Dae-o Bookstore: antique and vintage bookstore-turned-cafe visited by BTS’s RM and soloist IU
- Seoul Book Bogo / Seoul Book Repository: an interesting modern bookstore with a dizzying arched ceiling design
- COEX Starfield Library: beautiful 2-story library with huge bookshelves (see the first item on this list)
- Arc N Book: small older bookstore with curved shelves, great for Instagram (not pictured below—it was temporarily closed when I visited)
Always remember to be respectful in bookstores, do not make a mess, keep out of the way of patrons, and keep your voice down.
Euljiro
Euljiro is a young, hip area popular at night for drinking and late-night bar food. The neon signs and lights lend a retro feel to the cafes and restaurants stuffed into narrow alleyways. I don’t drink, but drinking culture is huge in Korea (in fact, they have the heaviest drinkers in the entire world). Having a bottle or two of soju can definitely be considered a cultural experience for tourists—if you need an excuse!
Euljiro Young Pollack Alley is famous for drinking, and Eulji Maek Ock is a popular spot to see the neon lights.
Eat Traditional Korean Cuisine
Aside from the Korean street food scene I mentioned above, traditional Korean cuisine is definitely worth eating. It’s a unique food culture that you can find nowhere else in the world! You’ll have to check out my full list of Korean foods to try here, but I’ve gathered a sample list of the first few to get you hooked.
- Soondubu: Soft tofu stew, often served with seafood or beef and an egg, in a hot stone pot with slightly spicy broth. An absolute comfort food, especially on a cold day.
- Korean BBQ: Now famous around the world, you can’t leave Korea without trying grilled Korean beef and pork! Make sure you get the classics, like chadol (brisket) and samgyeopsal (pork belly) to start.
- Naengmyeon: If you come in the summer, try these Korean cold noodles! They have spicy and non-spicy versions, but my favorite is the mul naengmyeon which comes with sliced meat and Korean pear in an icy broth.
- Seolleongtang: Maybe my favorite Korean food. Oxbone soup stewed for hours with sliced meat, noodles, and a generous heap of green onions. Not only is it super good for you, but it tastes like home.
That’s far from the full list, but I’m getting hungry. Make sure to check out my extensive Korean Food Guide if you want the real deal!
Take Photobooth Photos
If you’ve walked down a single street in Seoul, chances are you’ve seen the self photobooth shops—they’re everywhere. These are small stores that usually have banners with photos of dewy-eyed girls at the front, and the inside has collections of accessories and photobooths. They’re extremely popular at the moment in Seoul for both individual and group shots with friends, and I highly recommend! A couple of strips is only 5,000 won, and it’s a fun activity to make some memories.
The photo studios are quite advanced, and many of them even have mirrors and hair tools so you can look your best! We took a few strips with one of my friends who lives in Korea and they have become precious mementos from our stay in Seoul.
Jogyesa Temple
Jogyesa Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Korea. While Buddhism isn’t as prevalent here as it is in many Asian countries—many Koreans are atheist/agnostic or Christian—the temple is quite popular.
What makes the temple easily distinguishable are its thousands of colorful rainbow lanterns strung up above and around the temple, visible even from a block away. The back of the temple also has a section with all-white lanterns. The entire grounds lights up at night and the glowing field of lanterns is quite a sight to see, so don’t forget to stop by after dark.
You can find these colorful lanterns in other temples in Korea, too. Have you seen Yonggungsa Temple, the oceanside temple called the most beautiful in Korea?
Noryangjin Fish Market
Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but going to a Korean fish market—even if you have no idea what to get—is a fun and unique experience. Noryangjin Fish Market’s vast floor is full of cubicles with stacked fishtanks, bearing every kind of seafood imaginable. Don’t be afraid to bargain with the sellers, even if you don’t speak Korean. And know that if you buy something large, they’ll likely throw in some extra seafood goodies on the house! This is called “service” (literally, the Korean is seo-bi-seu, a direct sound translation).
Noryangjin is famous for their snow crab, or daegae. We got one huge crab, plus some abalone and scallop service, for about 60,000 won. Then, you can take the still-living seafood up to the second floor, where the restaurants will cook it to your preference at around 10,000 won per kilogram. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!
Big fan of seafood? Boy, you’ll absolutely love eating in Busan then! Come check out my travel guide to Busan, Korea’s incredible city on the coast.
Go Shopping in Hongdae
Koreans, especially young men and women, pay a lot of attention to their appearance, from hair to clothes to makeup. In fact, it’s quite normal to also see men wearing makeup as well. Hongdae is the perfect young people’s hub to go shopping for clothes and accessories. The streets are absolutely packed with clothing stalls, from cheap trends to expensive vintage thrift stores. You’ll also find cafes to grab a drink or snack and the ever-ubiquitous self photo studios at every turn.
If you’re still in Hongdae once evening starts to roll in, you’ll be treated to the sacred art of busking that starts to come to life on the streets at this time. Many performers come to Hongdae to show their talents, so whether you’re looking for singers, dancers, or even magicians, you can find someone to watch here.
Seoul feels like more than just a destination. Yes, there are countless things to do, but it’s impossible not to fall in love with the city, not just the activities. I can guarantee that after your visit, you will surely feel the same way.
Please let me know what you loved most in Seoul. I would love to hear from you!
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